Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-18

out s,inawares.s She made an effort Il
remedy the mistake she had made.
Liam very anxious" she said gravely
" but when spoke | only thought O
the sea, and how much here she hest
tated--
81 have enjoyed everything"
There was pause.
81 shall often think" he said. "ovel
lots of the things you have said to me
You must sometimes cast thought my
way, too"
That you may be sure | shall do"
81 wish" he began, "that coul(
ask you something, and feel sure yor
wouldn't be offended by it.
" promise not to take offence at what
ever you may say. What is it you wan
TO know? ?"
" Wei, you know you said You haC
not seen this gentleman for many years,
and you seem surprised that he should
remember you. What made you accept
INN, and make up your mind to go out
to him ? can't fit it in with You. II
isn't what / should have expected"
Miss Julia flushed so that the color in
her face was even visible in the dim
light.
NO." he said hurriedly, "don't an
swer me. Forgive me for putting the
| question. I--I--well don't take any
notice of me"
&C Yes, hut intend to tell you. Years
ago, when | was younger, had many
offers OF marriage made me, but / always
soid No No one believes me, but
really | did not care for anybody. ]
suppose forgot that | was growing old.
thought the right person had not
come"
land he-this one is the right per
son ?" he said, interrupting her.
. hope he will be. intend 70 try
and make him so. When his letter came
! was very discontinued, getting soured
because nobody wanted me / could not
be OF use to any one. | mean to try with
might and man TO make him happy.
She said this very resolutely. 81 wrote
to him first, and told him that, of course,
years had made great alteration IN me,
and ne sent back the most generous re-
ply. / should be more than ungrateful
If did not strive to the very utmost TO
make him perfectly happy"
"Iheres no fear but you'll do that.
said Captain Stewart earnestly. "He's
a lucky fellow: | envy him with heart
and soul and he sighed deeply.
CIVIL you promise me that if you
should find some nice woman you think
would make you happy, you will write
and tell me ? l should like to rejoice
with you.
Captain Stewart shook his head.
at is impossible you think? can
well understand you feel so now. but,
merciiully, Time is a great soitener of
trouble"
1T is not quite that. I loved the
poor little soul who is gone dearly, and
there was nothing would not have done
to keep her with me; but-wel, you
see, she had been married before, and
though she tried with all her might to
care for me, she couldn't give me a heart
that was buried III a grave. never
blamed her. ] should do the
same If it was 10 come over
again. She was so helpless, friendless,
stranded, with not a creature to hold out
a hand to her. No thank God that l
did as ! did. She constantly said she
couldn't do without me. Almost her last
words were: Your reward viii come,
John. You have been SO good 10 me.
She had sweet, unselfish nature, dear
little soul, and her troubles had been
very heavy. There" he added, after a
minutes pause, "nOw you know my
story"
"Thank you," she said simply, "for
having told me. l believe, with her,
tuat the reward Tor your generosity Is
certain TO come"
lie shook his head.
"Ah, well, of that I'm not so sure
not in the sense | mean. The entire
affection of some nice, good Woman
that is the only thing OF value to me.
I'm comfortably OFF 1 need not 60 to
sea if I'd any one to stop ashore for.
Miss Julia smiled.
"Take heart, she said, and there was
a little tremor in her voice as she spoke.
"The right person will yet come in your
way, and she will be a very fortunate
woman"
"Ah, Miss Robinson" he said, "some
things always seem to 90 contrary, and
some people are always the day after the
fair. Goodnight and goodbye, for l
feel it is goodbye to you. God bless
you wherever you are.
Two days later they reached Bombay.
Mr. Penberthy came to meet his in
tended bride, and amid ELUSIVE good
wishes and waving of hands-for the sur
roundings of the gentleman fayorably
impressed the passengers-Mlss Robin
son and he left the ship.
Miss Julia averred that from the very
first moment Mr.. Penberthy's eyes met
hers conviction seized her that III
coming out to him she had committed
grievous error
Very little did she ever say about what
took place, and all that could be learned
of the matter came from the report Of
third person.
These facts, at all events, are certain:
that having taken her to the house from
which the marriage was TO take place,
Mr.. Penberthy requested her to grant
him an interview. From this interview
Miss Julia emerged pale, agitated, but
resolute and full of dignity. Presenting
herself to the lady of the house, she sim
nv said that Mr.. Penberthy and she
found they were in no way suited to each
other.
81 was most ill-judged," she added,
" after SO long a separation, to think OF
out here.
"But the thing is impossible" was
her hostess's reply. Gam l to under
stand that you refuse to marry Mr.. Pen
berthy p? "
Miss Julia hesitated.
"It is not exactly that way but L
fully realize how altered / am since he
saw me. | believe then | was a nice
looking young girl, but never the beauty
be supposes me to have been. The
miniature. lit is true, was thought like
me then but you know how these things
datter one.
"But my dear lady, even in personal
advantages you have fifty thousand more
han MIR. Penberthy ever could have
had. Such slight-and in my house,
too look upon it as a positive insult
10 me l must insist on an explanation.
If he has got bis senses we must bring
him to them"
But Miss Robinson entreated her to
let the matter be. -.